The Trail to Eagle

 Martin back in 2005 when he was a brand new Cub Scout. He actually started Cub Scouts in 2004 when he was 8 years old.  He was so excited about being a cub scout and getting to participate in the Pinewood Derby!!  He had so many wonderful Scout leaders over the years!  He has been able to learn all kinds of cool things because of scouting: learning about service, wilderness survival, first aid, camping, white water rafting, horsemanship, and welding, just to name a few things.   He always said he wanted to be an Eagle Scout, and Martin (with the help of his leaders and, ok, some pushing from ZooKeeper) fulfilled that dream a couple of months before his 18th birthday.  I am so very thankful for all of the great leaders Martin has had from Cub Scout Days through Venture Scouts.  They have all had a profound influence on him and his buddies.  Thank you for all of your service!!!  Congrats Martin!  I am so proud of you!!!

Family Photo Time!

My cousin Jenny, (actually she's a first cousin once removed, but whose keeping track?) is a fantastic photographer and I have dreamed of her taking our family pictures.  Jenny lives in Nebraska so I never thought the stars would align just right for her to be able to take our family pictures.  However, those stars did align and here are some of the results!!  (stars that had to align:  Jenny be in the area, most of our children be present, Hunter be willing to get pictures taken, (I know, HUGE, right?) and find a time that everyone could make this happen!!!)

Yak was the pickle for this photo shoot.   He did like the swing so we got some good shots of him, but he was a turkey butt for the family photos.  Jenny was so cute and fun with him that she ended up getting quite a few good family shots.




Monkey was sporting a pink cast... and you can't even tell!!!



We were glad Porcupine was here for this momentous occasion!!

Martin - heading into his Senior year!!



I love this sweet picture of Lemur and Yak.  They really are pretty good buddies and play really good together!

Lemur - such a sweet picture!!


And here's a pretty good one of Hunter and I.

Then this beautiful shot of Bee.  I sure have a good looking family!!  And THANK YOU JENNY! for helping to make this happen!!

Paintball Heaven!

Martin and a friend planned a two day paint ball trip up to some friends cabin near Council Idaho.  We met at Jeremy's house in Caldwell Monday morning and were up at the cabin before lunch time ready to start the competition.  Martin and Jeremy had all kinds of games planned and the boys had a blast playing them.  Zookeeper was the only adult there with 16 guys.  It was super fun and we can't wait to do it again.

4th of July in Grangeville Idaho

We had a fun fourth of July in Grangeville with the Chandler family.  The Parade was fantastic for such a small town!  The rodeo was next, then done fun at the carnival.  We cooled off at the pool, had dinner, then watched a fantastic fireworks show.  It was a long, fun day and we all slept good that night!!!

At the ranch

We love branding time!  It means fun, family, and food, and this year it means sun burns!

Pictures of my Wonderful Children

Carson is almost 4.  He is super smart and a fun little boy.  Last fall one day we were in the parking lot at a store and he said, "C-O-S-T-C-O.  Costco."  he has been starting to read really well and is a whiz kid at his letters and numbers.  he entertains himself fairly well and LOVES to be outside.

 



Sawyer is almost 6!  He is a good big brother and he and Carson are "best friends!"  They play outside really well together, rain, snow or shine.  They both love playing with Cooper and riding their bikes.  Sawyer has loved kindergarten and is becoming a great reader.  He rides his bike without training wheels all over the place and wants to go on a bike ride every day.  Sawyer is probably the best at doing service within our family.  He constantly looks for ways to serve other people and does it with a huge smile on his face!



Adam is in the 6th grade this year.  He still has those irresistible dimples and the girls are all starting to comment on them as well as his "great hair!"  Adam is the Deacons Quorum President in our ward.  He is showing great leadership qualities and is very responsible about getting the things done that he needs to.  Adam is LOVING scouts and all the camping trips that his troop goes on.  He has invited a couple of friends to join his troop and they have been going for about a year not.  Adam played football last fall and is in track right now.  He also has a job cleaning ditches for a farmer across the street.  

 Grandma Lynn came down last fall to catch a volleyball game, a football game and a choir concert.  We got some great pictures when she was here.  She is a hero to all of us and we love her very much!

 Grandma Lynn is the kind of person that is beautiful inside as well as out. 

 Ooops, this one snuck in here and I can't figure out how to rearrange my photos...

 Shelby Lynn and Grandma Lynn - two peas in a pod!



Shelby is 14 and in the 8th grade.  She is going to be glad when the 8th grade comes to an end.  There has been DRAMA this year with her friends!!  She played volleyball last fall and made Select Choir in the Middle School.  She started taking voice lessons in addition to piano lessons from the same teacher.  It has been fun hearing her improve in both.  She is now in club volleyball this spring and is getting ready to start drivers ed at the end of May!  Shelby has been in a class presidency since she got into young women.  Currently she is the MiaMaid secretary and enjoys going to mutual, especially when the boys do something with the girls.  Her favorite thing:  Stake Dances!!!



Luke is 17 and a Junior.  He is hardly ever home because he is so busy! He has been working at Jack's Drive In for over a year and is currently looking for another job to work full time at this summer.  He has his Eagle project all mapped out and just needs to get it approved and do it.  Hopefully that will happen soon!  He is coordinating the sanding and painting of an antique bus stop for the City of Greenleaf.  Another Scout will place the bus stop in a little park the city is developing.  Luke was in the Vallivue Marching Band last fall which took championship in the district III competition for the fourth year in a row.  he is the second first chair trumpet in his band.  Luke also tried out for Men's Select choir and made it!  He has really enjoyed singing and wants to try out for the Madrigal Choir his Senior year.  He is in track this spring and enjoys running.  (He must not be related to me!!!)  Besides dating, homework and hanging out with his friends, Luke stops by at home once in a while to say hi to his family.